SEMINAR: Understanding the Sendai Framework for National Level Implementation in Coherence with the SDGs and the Paris Agreement - Graduate School of Governance, Sung Kyun Kwan University

Background and Introduction

At the Third UN World Conference for Disaster Risk Reduction (WCDRR) in March 2015, 187 UN member states adopted the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 – the global blueprint for disaster risk reduction (DRR).

The Sendai Framework was the first major agreement of the post-2015 development agenda, with seven global targets and four priorities for action. It provides the way forward to prevent and reduce disaster risk and offers a solution to saving lives, livelihoods and assets as well as for reducing the fiscal burden on governments to bail-out the aftermath of failed ‘development’.

The Sendai Framework’s primary focus on stronger risk management is one of the key elements that binds together the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement on climate change.  Implementation of the Sendai Framework, addressing a broad scope of both natural and man-made hazards and related environmental, technological and biological hazards, will substantially lower the level of disaster risk and losses, and contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. Under the leadership of national governments embracing all actors at all levels, and all-of-society engagement, the Sendai Framework is a means to protect the economic, physical, social, cultural and environmental assets of people, communities, businesses and countries.

Learning from the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015 (HFA), the Sendai Framework recognizes the primary role of States and emphasizes the importance of local level actions. The framework specifies in its Priorities for Actions activities at national and local level. Among its seven global targets (a) – (g), target (e) calls to: Substantially increase the number of countries with national and local disaster risk reduction strategies by 2020. This precise target is shared with indicators of SDG 1 that calls for an end to poverty, SDG 11 on sustainable cities and communities, and SDG 13 on climate action.

Objectives:

1. Strengthen understanding of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction in coherence with the SDGs and the Paris Agreement on climate change;
2. Learn and share experience through case studies on mainstreaming disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation into sustainable development;
3. Develop capacity for DRR action in line with SDGs and Paris Agreement at national level.